Williams lands second successive Lanzarote Hurdle

Nick Williams and Will Kennedy won their second successive William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle when Swincombe Flame got up in the final stride to deny Featherbed Lane.

Just 12 months on from the victory of James De Vassy, the mare crept in off bottom weight to win as the well-backed 9-2 favourite.

Her army of followers must have feared the worst as Featherbed Bed lane went past approaching the last but as that one idled on the run-in, Swincombe Flame got up to win in a photo, despite a mistake at the final flight.

Kennedy said: 'It's brilliant to win
this race as I've had some ups and downs this season. Nick has been very
supportive and given me a few nice rides.

'I won it for him last year and now this year, so hopefully we can go on and make it three.'

Owner Malcolm Yeo, a farmer based in
North Devon, said: 'Earlier in the season I didn't want her to be taken
too far away, so we kept her at Exeter and Wincanton, but Nick won this
last year and he was keen to take her here.

'Nick fancies a mares' race at
Sandown at the beginning of March. We'd like to go to Cheltenham, but
that is something we will sit down and sort out.'

There was a sting in the tail for
Kennedy, however, as he was handed a seven-day ban - five days for using
his whip with excessive frequency and two days for his last stroke
being in an incorrect place.

He was also ordered to forfeit his share of prize money.

He said: 'It's disappointing, I'm not
one for hitting them but what do I tell the owners if I get beaten by a
nostril, whereas I have hit her two more times (than the allotted
eight) and won.

'Can anyone say I would have won without those extra hits?'

He added later: 'The last slap before
the line landed short (in the wrong place) so I've got seven days. It's
black and white so there's probably nothing to appeal against, but I'll
still get someone to look at it.

'You work your backside off and I've lost £2,500 so sometimes you wonder why you bother.'